Christine Studios

Katelyn and Mike’s Wedding

Gary — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:53:11 +0000

There are two things a bride and groom wish for on their wedding day and Katelyn and Mike had both. First is perfect, blue sky weather, with not a cloud in sight. And the second would be, look as amazing as Katelyn. We all decided as a group in the bridal suite, before the guys arrived that we were going to abandon all the wedding plans, and just spend the whole day photographing Katelyn in her amazing wedding dress. Well, I guess someone exercised a veto power since the day proceeded as planned.

I’ve been planning on writing a book on secrets and tips every bride and groom need to know to survive their wedding. Within minutes of arriving in the bridal suite, I knew that this was a fun group when the father of the bride offered advice on Chapter 12 of my book titled, “how not to cry”. I was informed that the best method when you’re about to cry is, “squeeze your butt checks together real hard!”. I guess that’s chapter 12… AND 13.

The ceremony proceeded in front of the most beautiful willow tree I’ve ever seen (I honestly expected two since the wedding was at the “Double Tree”… hardy har har). I knew I just had to incorporate it into a wide angle photo during the ceremony.

With the sounds of DJ Angel, the crowd of 200 packed the dance floor all night!

Ceremony: The Double Tree – Tarrytown, NY
Reception: The Double Tree – Tarrytown, NY
Music: DJ Angel Productions

Stephanie and Luke’s Wedding

Gary — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 03:51:26 +0000

What an amazing time we had with Stephanie and Luke. And I’m not just counting their amazing wedding. But every time we’ve met or even just talked on the phone since the first day we met almost a year ago. There are just some weddings where you want to drop the camera and join in the fun and this was one for sure!

I’ve never felt so welcomed into a family’s special day. Upon arriving at Stephanie and Luke’s home, I was even graciously greeted by the best dressed man of the day, Cooper! Yes, Steph and Luke’s dog was all dressed up, sporting a tuxedo scarf. How awesome!

With perfect weather and a setting sun, we jumped in golf carts at Patriot Hills and zoomed off to several locations around the grounds. We captured a few photos of some beautiful moments between two people who have waited so very long for this day and who are so much in love.

I hope we truly become friends and can be a part of their lives for a long time. I’ve had such a great time with you guys! You both are the perfect example why I love wedding photography so much! All the best!!

Ceremony: St. Johns Church – Goshen, NY
Reception: Patriot Hills – Stony Point, NY
Music: Soundsational DJ Entertainment

Photos featured on Hulu

Gary — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:46:28 +0000

First a big congrats to a long time friend ours, Jonathan Real! Some of you might recall a blog posting (CLICK HERE) from last month which featured a promotional photo shoot in NYC for Jonathan and his show Real Magic TV (RMTV). What I wasn’t allowed to say in that posting is, we were hired specifically to capture photos that Jonathan would use when his partnership with Hulu was announced. After years of hard work, RMTV launched it’s featured page of original programming on the exclusive TV section of Hulu last night. My photos are now prominently featured as RMTV’s main banner on Hulu as well as all the photo links that populate the different sections of Hulu that link to RMTV. I’ve had photos published before but never on such a grand scale, visible to millions of people.

In addition, Jonathan was both creative and kind enough to shoot some video of behind the scenes of his photo shoot and that video is now the first video in the “Behind the Magic” section.

Our little lady

Gary — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:02:20 +0000

I’m on the train back home from NYC. All little kids have their playgrounds. For some it’s Disney…others is Sesame Place. For me, it’s B&H, the largest camera store ever! I spent the better half of the day drooling over some lenses that will be arriving by UPS in the next day or two. I can’t wait to start using them. So while I sit here on the train thinking about my little comparison about being a little kid, I remembered that I yet to post an image or two from a fun photo session i did this weekend with my own family. Sometimes it’s just to hard to bring my camera when we go out to a park but it’s been a while and I wanted some new images of my “little lady”, Hannah. One day she will grow tired if Daddy’s camera but for now, she hams it up!
Check out our child and family site for information on booking a family or child session.
www.christinestudiosfamily.com

Things We Like – The Grandview: Poughkeepsie, NY

Gary — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:44:35 +0000

We’ve said it time and time again that The Grandview in Poughkeepsie is one of, if not THE, best place to get married in the hudson valley. In fact, The Knot rated it so last year. But just incase we needed one more reason to like ‘em: Today I got a call from The Grandview asking if they could add to their main website, the video that we created and posted on our Facebook page a few weeks ago. The video was a fast paced montage of my favorite Grandview images over the last few years. Uh Yeah you can!!!

A big thanks to Rachel and the rest of the Grandview crew!

The video can be viewed on The Grandview’s website under the section called “view our facility”

(Mobile Update) Before the iPhone…Before the iAnything!

Gary — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:28:25 +0000

Talk about a blast from the past! I had an opportunity to check out the underground museum at Tekserve in manhattan today. Their amazing collection of historic cameras, radios and of course, all of the first Apple products ever introduced from 1983 thru today.
It was a thrill for a tech dork like me to hold the predecessor to the iPhone, the less then successful “Newton”. What school child of the 1980’s could forget the clunky keys of the Apple IIe and how difficult it was to float the wagon down the Oregon Train (I usually broke an arm or died of typhoid before the river anyway).
So next time you drop a call on your iPhone or get impatient when your 50 photos take more then 15 seconds to upload to Facebook, remember the frustration when mom picked up the phone and threw you off AOL!!
(Ironically: this is my first mobile posting from my new iPhone. I think it’s fitting.)

Stephanie and Luke’s Engagement Session

Gary — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:02:18 +0000

We met Stephanie and Luke almost 8 months ago back at a bridal expo.. You ever meet someone and start talking and not realize how much time has passed? Stephanie and Luke were the last couple to visit our booth that day and we should have gotten the clue that expo was over, when the cleaning crew asked us how much longer we’ll be set up.. Oooops. After all the Star Wars jokes had been made and we met our quota of 51 Family Guy quotes and references, we said our goodbyes and met the following week to finalize our arrangements to photograph their wedding.

I couldn’t wait to meet Steph and Luke for their engagement session on Saturday. We were so excited, we arranged to meet at the park at 7:45am!! Well, the fact that it was going to be 95 degrees by noon didn’t hurt the early risers.
Within minutes, the ice had been broken (ahhh, actually some ice would have been really great), and Luke and Stephanie appeared to be so comfortable in front of the camera enjoying their time together.

We began to move around the lake (trying not to steal a fresh burger from one of the families already out there BBQing) to some of my favorite spots. To say that they were “good troopers” would be putting it mildly. I don’t know what it’s like to wear three inch heals but I would imagine that walking across some rocks in them is not an easy feat (every pun intended).

One can truly see how in love Stephanie and Luke are, how much fun they have together and what a great time we’re going to have photographing their wedding.

Below is a small preview of their session. Please become fans of Christine Studios on facebook to be notified when the full gallery of Saturday’s engagement session is posted.
LOCATION: Rockland Lake State Park – Valley Cottage, NY

Rolling Greens at the Dutchess Golf and Country Club

Gary — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:02:43 +0000

Several weeks ago, I was honored to be asked to photograph the opening event and the first night the Bonura Family expanded its reputation of excellence and elegance in events to Rolling Greens at the Dutchess Golf and Country Club. The Bonura Family has made a name for itself catering events in the Hudson Valley. From Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor, to the newly renovated Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel and the amazing Grandview and Shadows on the Hudson Restaurant. Rolling Greens at Dutchess Golf & Country Club is the newest opportunity for the Bonura’s to help create cherished memories and an incredible experience for guest.
Please enjoy a look at some of the fine foods and elegant atmosphere the club has to offer wedding couples.

Erin and Eric’s NYC Engagement Session

Gary — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:58:53 +0000

In a beautiful NYC summer day, we met Erin and Eric at the “cross roads of the world”, Times Square, to begin their engagement session. And after sitting down and talking with them for a few minutes before we began, I realized my biggest challenge of the day wasn’t the lighting, it wasn’t the heat, it wasn’t the crowded streets. It was going to be getting photographs without Erin absolutely cracking up in hysterical laughter from the man she wholeheartedly loves and is going to marry this October.
It was so wonderful to watch and photograph the joy between Erin and Eric. The idea and locations for this session came from all the times they visit the city to go to a Broadway show, relax in Central Park, or just enjoy “people watching”.

Real Magic TV Photo Session

Gary — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:44:00 +0000

Today, I spent the afternoon with Jonathan Real, the star magician of Real Magic TV to do some new promotional photos.

The last time I photographed Jonathan was back in the spring of 2006 in Asbury Park, NJ. That is a photo shoot I’ll never forget because it turned out the excruciating pain I was feeling in my abdomen during that shoot was my appendix rupturing. No joke!
So I’m happy to say that tonight, I’m feeling so much better then the last time I did a photo session with Jonathan.

Real Magic TV (RMTV) presents relaxed interviews between top celebrities/musicians and world renowned magician, Jonathan Real. The show follows Jonathan as he goes behind the scenes entertaining and interacting with actors and top artists.
Definitely check it out.. The site is totally free to sign up and watch the complete video library of all the interviews, music performances and magic.

I’d have to say that my favorite interview of all is the private one-on-one acoustic session with Jasom Mraz. Maybe it’s my favorite because Jonathan asked me to be the lighting director on that shoot.. It’s actually the 3rd highest ranked Jason Mraz video on youtube with currently 12,278,144 views.. (YES, that is over 12 million!) Still not as popular as that Wedding Entrance Dance video last year but more popular then the brazilian baby doing the mambo!
Check it out at www.realmagictv.com